Some years ago, I remember someone telling me that a race track was being built in Royal Palm Beach. WOW, I thought with excitement; until I learned that it was a gas station, not a thoroughbred racing venue. Moral of the story. . . what we hear and think is not always was is “reality.”

The shepherds in the fields, the Wise Men on the road to Bethlehem, the women who went to the tomb early on the first Easter Sunday, were not expecting to find what they thought they were looking for. How many times in our lives do we experience the same situations? God likes to surprise us, but only with good things. We meet our life long partner, find the perfect job, home, school . . .

Accept your path, with its twists and turns. The adventure is in the journey, not the arriving. Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there. And when we lose hope and think it’s the end, God says, “Relax, it’s just a bend, not the end.” The Good News is that the task ahead is never greater than the Power behind us.

So, in this season of giving, remember that what we are is God’s gift to us; and what we become is our gift to God.

NOTICES:

THERE WILL BE OPENINGS FOR FIVE NEW VESTRY MEMBERS FOR 2023. INTERESTED PARISHIONERS CAN CONTACT FATHER THOMAS OR ANY VESTRY MEMBER.

First Communion. Congratulations and blessings to Lydia Waters, Matthew Hogan, Alice Valderama, and Vitor Megathlim who will be receiving this Sunday at the 10:00 a.m. mass.

Facebook Page.  Please join our St. David’s social media community by scanning the QR code below. This will take you to our Facebook page where you can begin to follow us if you have not done so in the past.”

ECW will hold a regular meeting Saturday, December 3rd, at 11:15 a.m. in the parish hall, followed by lunch at Los Agaves in Royal Palm Beach.

ECW is hosting a Christmas-themed decorative craft workshop at Board and Brush in Wellington on Saturday, December 10th from 1-3p.m. Cost is $35 per person and includes all supplies to make a lovely and durable Christmas craft to decorate your home or give as a gift. Participants need to register online using a link and password because you need to choose your personal project and pay your $35 by December 7th. Contact Linda McKeown at llmckeown51@comcast.net or call 561-254-3902 to get the link emailed to you. All women of the church and their friends and neighbors are invited to this event. Thanks. Linda

Church cleaning and decorating. We need volunteers from the men of the church to help set up the Christmas trees and get decorations out of the attic starting at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 10th. All members welcome to come clean and decorate church for Christmas on Saturday, December 17th from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Men will set up crèche for Live Nativity at 9 a.m. Please contact Linda McKeown at 561-254-3902.

Christmas Flowers. We are collecting donations of $25.00 for Christmas flowers starting this week. Please fill in a form and leave it in the bag on the credenza or put it in the plate. The deadline is December 14th.

St. David’s Holiday Concert on Sunday, December 18th at 4:00 p.m. Please join us for our joyous holiday concert! Enjoy musical performances. We hope to see you there. A reception to follow in the Parish Hall. Suggested donation of $20.00

The Live Nativity, one of our oldest traditions at St. David’s, will be held on Wednesday, December 21st, from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Everyone is invited to come and see the display that evening, but we also need volunteers of all ages to be in the display. To volunteer or get more information, call or text Jenifer Elmore at 561-601-3346 at your earliest opportunity.

Sunday school is open and available for children starting at age 3 years old. We are looking for volunteer Sunday school teachers, anyone interested can contact Erin Thomas to learn more details, or contact the church office.

Sandwiches for St. George’s: Please bring your sandwiches to St. David’s west side parking lot each Wednesday morning from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

Hospitality Hour is scheduled after the 10:00 a.m. service – Hosted by the Vestry. Next Sunday will be hosted by the Congregation. Please bring a dish to share.

Women’s Bible Study weekly meeting will be held today at 11:30 a.m. in the Mark Room.

Tuesdays: Holy Eucharist 8:30 a.m.

Sunday’s Worship – We are open for live worship on Sundays at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. We also “live-stream” our 10 a.m. service.

Video Viewing Options for Sunday’s mass. There are three different ways to view our videos: 1) our church website; 2) our Facebook page; and 3) our YouTube channel. See the links listed below.

Opportunities for Giving – there are several options that safely and efficiently expedite your generous donations: electronic bank transfers or automatic bank transfers via personal accounts or credit/debit cards; personal checks delivered by USPS; and our favorite through joining our giving family online through our website or at https://www.myEoffering.com with our secure vendor Church Envelope Budget Company, who provides you with yearly offering envelopes. Please do NOT leave any envelopes with checks/cash unattended at church mailboxes.

PLEASE PRAY. For the sick: Alice, Barbara, Beth, Carol, Carolyn, Diana, Donna, Doris, Doug, Ed, Ezra, Gina, Grace, Jacob, James, Jayden, Jeanne, Jill, Joaquin, Jory, Kenzie, Manuel, Michael, Miguel, Parker, Patricia, Predrag, Rachel, Ron, Rosie, Sharon, Shelly, Steve, Sue, Susan, Tracy, Vernetta, Violet, William, Woody. For birthday celebrations: Hannah Gardner, Connie Hunter, Nicholas Webber. For our expectant mother: Rebecca.

Our YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/c/SaintDavidsinthePinesWellingtonFL

Friday, November 11th, is of course, Veteran’s Day, marking the end of World War 1, in 1918. We owe a debt of gratitude to all veterans for their willingness to serve and defend the peace and liberty of our own country and others around the world, which we often take for granted. Coincidentally, in the liturgical calendar it is also the commemoration of St. Martin of Tours, the patron saint of soldiers. Martin served in the Roman army in the 4th c. then settled in France and became a monk. The story is told that while early on in his Christian faith, Martin was approached by a beggar. Moved with compassion for the man, Martin removed his cloak, cut it in two pieces, and gave half to the poor man. The following night, Jesus appeared to Martin in a vision wearing the same torn piece of cloth. Later on he reluctantly accepted the position of Bishop of Tours in 372 A.D. and went on to become a popular and respected leader of the Church.

Jesus said, “What you did for the least of these my brothers, you did it unto me.” Martin’s immense faith and humility are an example to all of us of our responsibility to help those in time of need, and recognize Jesus in the lives of others. When we show kindness to those who can repay us, it’s called networking. When we show kindness with no thought of repayment, it’s called love.

BUNKO IS BACK!! Come join us for serious fun and great camaraderie! Saturday, November 12th, at 6:00 p.m., in the Parish Hall. A super easy game to learn if you’ve never played and loads of fun! Bring a dish to share and a friend or two – the more the merrier! Cash prizes will be awarded, and you win even if you lose!! Seriously, where are you going to find that?! Come out to see what the excitement is all about! $10 per person – total bargain for a night full of fun!

The ECW is hosting a food collection for St. George’s Center, Riviera Beach on Sundays, November 6th and 13th. Boxes of cereal, cans of meat or fish, chicken and spam can be dropped off in the west parking lot on those two Sundays. Look for the signs!

ECW will not hold a regular meeting in November, but will hold a regular meeting on Saturday, December 3rd, at 11:15 a.m. in the parish hall, followed by lunch at Los Agaves in Royal Palm Beach.

ECW is hosting a Christmas-themed decorative craft workshop at Board & Brush in Wellington on Saturday, December 10th, from 1 to 3 p.m. Cost is $35 per person and includes all supplies to make a lovely and durable Christmas craft to decorate your home or give as a gift. Contact Linda McKeown at llmckeown51@comcast.net for more information or to reserve a space for the Board & Brush event. All women of the parish are invited to all ECW events.

St. David’s Holiday Concert on Sunday, December 18th at 4:00 p.m. Please join us for our joyous holiday concert! Enjoy musical performances. We hope to see you there. A reception to follow in the Parish Hall. Suggested donation of $20.00

Sunday’s Worship – We are open for live worship on Sundays at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. We also “live-stream” our 10 a.m. service.

Video Viewing Options for Sunday’s mass. There are three different ways to view our videos: 1) our church website; 2) our Facebook page; and 3) our YouTube channel. See the links listed below.

Opportunities for Giving – there are several options that safely and efficiently expedite your generous donations: electronic bank transfers or automatic bank transfers via personal accounts or credit/debit cards; personal checks delivered by USPS; and our favorite through joining our giving family online through our website or at https://www.myEoffering.com with our secure vendor Church Envelope Budget Company, who provides you with yearly offering envelopes. Please do NOT leave any envelopes with checks/cash unattended at church mailboxes.

Sunday school is open and available for children starting at age 3 years old. We are looking for volunteer Sunday school teachers, anyone interested can contact Erin Thomas to learn more details, or contact the church office.

Sandwiches for St. George’s: Please bring your sandwiches to St. David’s west side parking lot each Wednesday morning from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

Hospitality Hour next Sunday will be hosted by the Hosted by the Congregation. Please bring a dish to share. Next week will be hosted by the Daughters of the King.

Women’s Bible Study weekly meeting will be held today at 11:30 a.m. in the Mark Room.

Altar Flowers and Candles: We have a bag on the credenza to collect all flower and candle donations for upcoming Sundays. If you would like to donate for altar flowers for memorials and celebrations, please put your check for $40 with a request showing the date you want altar flowers and the reason for your donation into the bag. If you want to donate candles, please put your check for $20 and request showing date and reason for donation. Do not put flower and candle requests in offering plates.

Forward Day by Day brochures are now available in the narthex. Donation $3.00.

Tuesdays: Holy Eucharist 8:30 a.m.

PLEASE PRAY. For the sick: Alice, Barbara, Beth, Carol, Carolyn, Donna, Doris, Doug, Ed, Edna, Ezra, Gina, Grace, Jacob, James, Jayden, Jeanne, Jill, Joaquin, Jory, Kenzie, Manuel, Michael, Miguel, Parker, Patricia, Predrag, Rachel, Rosie, Sharon, Shelly, Steve, Sue, Susan, Timothy, Tracy, Vernetta, Violet, William, Woody. For birthday celebrations: Pearl Saunders, Cynthia Thompson, Yashieka Blount, Elizabeth Philistin, Kimberly Gardner, Claudette Wray, Predrag Maksimovic, Yvonne Elliott, Jerry Frenz. For our expectant mother: Rebecca.

Our YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/c/SaintDavidsinthePinesWellingtonFL

In my last sermon at my first parish in Rhode Island, where I happily served as the assistant priest for three years, I told the story about a rector who appeared to spend an inordinate amount of time maintaining the memorial garden of the church rather than out amongst the people in the parish. When asked why he spent so much time there he replied, “Because I feel it’s important to spend more time with the people who are paying my salary.” Nobody laughed, but you get the point. The parish had a sizeable endowment, the income of which allowed the parish to afford an assistant, as well as a small cemetery on the church grounds.

Tuesday, November 1st, is the Solemnity of All Saints Day, but what often gets “lost” in the shadows is the Commemoration of All Souls, on November 2nd, which recognizes those who perhaps didn’t live recognizably “saintly” lives, but who are still on the road to heaven, although they need a little longer to be “cleansed” and prepared for the final “wedding banquet” in heaven. It’s sort of like driving your vehicle through the car wash: for some people, one needs to drive through more than a few times to get thoroughly cleansed!

As we remember those who have departed this life, I encourage you to seriously consider St. David’s Church in your estate planning; the rewards of which will ensure the continuation of the ministries we support. If you need advice on how to arrange for a part of your estate to be left to St. David’s, either in a life insurance policy, annuity, appreciated property or real estate; a representative from the parish will be willing to help you. Without a “will,” you leave the decision of how your assets are distributed to the State of Florida or the IRS.

Anybody can start the race, but they don’t give out the awards until you finish; but in the end, all of us go down to the dust, where even at the grave we make our song, “Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!”

BUNKO IS BACK!! Come join us for serious fun and great camaraderie! Saturday, November 12th, at 6:00 p.m., in the Parish Hall. A super easy game to learn if you’ve never played and loads of fun! Bring a dish to share and a friend or two – the more the merrier! Cash prizes will be awarded, and you win even if you lose!! Seriously, where are you going to find that?! Come out to see what the excitement is all about! $10 per person – total bargain for a night full of fun!

St. David’s Holiday Concert on Sunday, December 18th at 4:00 p.m. Please join us for our joyous holiday concert! Enjoy musical performances. We hope to see you there. A reception to follow in the Parish Hall.

Daughters of the King social event for members only this Saturday, Oct. 29th at 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Contact Diana Myrie, Beatrice Deshommes or Marianne Davidson for more information.

Blessing of the Animals is scheduled for this Sunday, October 30th immediately following the 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. masses.

Sunday’s Worship – We are open for live worship on Sundays at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. We also “live-stream” our 10 a.m. service.

ECW invites all women of the parish to a Fall Painting Workshop by Jan’s Finest in the Parish Hall, Saturday, Nov. 5, 1-4 p.m. All materials and hands-on instruction will be provided, light seasonal refreshments will be served, and NO ARTISTIC TRAINING OR TALENT IS REQUIRED! Cost is $25 per person, and reservations are available until Oct. 28 or until all spaces are filled. To reserve a space, contact Georgette Dzubiak at Zubie01@hotmail.com or sign up on the sheet in the church narthex.

The ECW is hosting a food collection for St. George’s Center, Riviera Beach on Sundays, November 6th and 13th. Boxes of cereal, cans of meat or fish, chicken and spam can be dropped off in the west parking lot on those two Sundays. Look for the signs!

Video Viewing Options for Sunday’s mass. There are three different ways to view our videos: 1) our church website; 2) our Facebook page; and 3) our YouTube channel. See the links listed below.

Opportunities for Giving – there are several options that safely and efficiently expedite your generous donations: electronic bank transfers or automatic bank transfers via personal accounts or credit/debit cards; personal checks delivered by USPS; and our favorite through joining our giving family online through our website or at https://www.myEoffering.com with our secure vendor Church Envelope Budget Company, who provides you with yearly offering envelopes. Please do NOT leave any envelopes with checks/cash unattended at church mailboxes.

Sunday school is open and available for children starting at age 3 years old. We are looking for volunteer Sunday school teachers, anyone interested can contact Erin Thomas to learn more details, or contact the church office.

Hospitality Hour is scheduled after the 10:00 a.m. service – Hosted by Maria Scher. Next Sunday will be hosted by the Vestry.

Women’s Bible Study will be held today at 11:30 a.m. in the Mark Room.

Caribbean Sunday Service: Please join us for our Caribbean Sunday service on October 23rd at 10:00 a.m. We will have steel pan music with a Caribbean reception following the mass.

Forward Day by Day brochures for next quarter are now available in the narthex. Donation $3.00.

Tuesdays: Holy Eucharist 8:30 a.m.

PLEASE PRAY: For the sick: Alice, Barbara, Beth, Carol, Carolyn, Donna, Doris, Doug, Ed, Edna, Gina, Grace, Jacob, James, Jayden, Jean, Jeanne, Jill, Joaquin, Jory, Kenzie, Manuel, Michael, Miguel, Parker, Patricia, Predrag, Rachel, Rosie, Sharon, Shelly, Steve, Sue, Susan, Timothy, Tracy, Vernetta, Violet, William. For ther departed Baldwin Henry. For birthday celebrations: Gregory Gingery, Zoe Chung, Jean-Rene Guillaume, The Rev. W. Steven Thomas, Trevor Carter. For anniversary celebrations: Jim and Sherry Richardson. For our expectant mother: Rebecca.

Our YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/c/SaintDavidsinthePinesWellingtonFL

As a child, I remember spending many Saturday evenings with my grandparents and watching the Ed Sullivan Show on television. Among the memories was watching the guys who would come out on the stage and spin china plates on vertical poles; first one, then another, and then more at the same time. After half a dozen or so, you’d hold your breath waiting for the plates to come crashing down.

How often in life do we feel like we’re juggling too many things at once? If you have three calendars, two computer screens, and two phones, you’re probably too busy. The paradox, however, is that many people are busy and yet bored at the same time. While running from one meeting or event to the next, we wonder if anything important is really happening. While trying to keep up with the many tasks and commitments, we are not sure that it would make any difference if we did nothing at all. While pushing ourselves in all directions, we doubt if anyone really cares. In short, our lives are full, but unfulfilled. Boredom can be linked to resentment. When we are busy, yet wondering if our busyness means anything to anyone, we feel manipulated and exploited. Of course, anyone with multiple children, several jobs, a spouse, and aging parents, will inevitably feel overworked and stressed out. All of which can lead to anger, depression, or related health issues.

Jesus has an answer. He wants to bring us to a place where we belong. But His call to live a spiritual life can only be heard when we are willing to recognize our “spiritual homelessness.” Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who know their need of God.” Recognizing that our true home is in heaven will keep us focused on the primary things in this life; and “All the other things shall be yours as well.”

Sunday’s Worship – We are open for live worship on Sundays at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. We also “live-stream” our 10 a.m. service.

Video Viewing Options for Sunday’s mass. There are three different ways to view our videos: 1) our church website; 2) our Facebook page; and 3) our YouTube channel. See the links listed below.

Opportunities for Giving – there are several options that safely and efficiently expedite your generous donations: electronic bank transfers or automatic bank transfers via personal accounts or credit/debit cards; personal checks delivered by USPS; and our favorite through joining our giving family online through our website or at https://www.myEoffering.com with our secure vendor Church Envelope Budget Company, who provides you with yearly offering envelopes. Please do NOT leave any envelopes with checks/cash unattended at church mailboxes.

Sunday school is open and available for children starting at age 3 years old. We are looking for volunteer Sunday school teachers, anyone interested can contact Erin Thomas to learn more details, or contact the church office.

Hospitality Hour is scheduled after the 10:00 a.m. service – Hosted by the Congregation. Next Sunday will be hosted by the Daughters of the King.

Women’s Bible Study will be held today at 11:30 a.m. in the Mark Room.

Vestry Meeting will be held this Sunday at 11:10 a.m.

Caribbean Sunday Service: Please join us for our Caribbean Sunday service on October 23rd at 10:00 a.m. We will have steel pan music with a Caribbean reception following the mass.

Altar Flowers and Candles: We will have a bag on the credenza to collect all flower and candle donations for upcoming Sundays. If you would like to donate for altar flowers for memorials and celebrations, please put your check for $40 with a request showing the date you want altar flowers and the reason for your donation into the bag. If you want to donate candles, please put your check for $20 and request showing date and reason for donation. Do not put flower and candle requests in offering plates.

Vases needed for flower delivery. If you are able to donate vases, please put them under counter in the ladies room. Thank you. Linda

Forward Day by Day brochures for next quarter are now available in the narthex. Donation $3.00.

Tuesdays: Holy Eucharist 8:30 a.m.

PLEASE PRAY: For the sick: Alice, Baldwin, Barbara, Beth, Carol, Carolyn, Donna, Doris, Doug, Ed, Edna, Gina, Grace, Jacob, James, Jayden, Jean, Jeanne, Jill, Joaquin, Jory, Kenzie, Manuel, Michael, Miguel, Parker, Patricia, Pearl, Predrag, Rachel, Rosie, Sharon, Shelly, Steve, Sue, Susan, Timothy, Tracy, Vernetta, Violet, William, Windell. For birthday celebrations: Laurel Coore, Carolyn Schmiedl, Jean DeLeon, Joanna Morlu, Judy Bennett. For our expectant mothers: Sarah and Rebecca.

Our YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/c/SaintDavidsinthePinesWellingtonFL